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THE ITALIAN CHRISTMAS KITCHENItalian ChristmasCookiesBake it. Gift it. Share the tradition.

From the Italian Christmas kitchen

Pistachio Almond Cookies

Almonds, citrus and a little Christmas tradition.

Soft almond cookies with ground pistachios and a nutty green coating.

Read the full method before starting. Household measures are approximate; gram weights help keep the dough consistent.

Soft almond cookies with ground pistachios and a nutty green coating.
Pistachio Almond Cookies
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Pistachio Almond Cookies

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Hands-on25 min
Chill / rest30 min
All batches20 min
Cooling30 min
Total time105 min
Yield24 cookies

Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.

Allow about 105 minutes: 25 hands-on, 30 chilling or resting, 20 whole-batch cooking and 30 cooling/setting. Cooling includes tray rest. Follow the method for batch sizes and visual doneness cues.

Soft almond cookies with ground pistachios and a nutty green coating.

Ingredients

Optional sprinkles are for decoration and are not included in the nutrition estimate. Spice weights are approximate.

Instructions

Mix

  1. 1MixMix almond flour, ground pistachios and sugar. Stir in lightly foamed egg whites, vanilla and salt to make a sticky paste.

Chill and shape

  1. 2Chill and shapeChill 30 minutes. Divide into 24 equal balls and roll each in the chopped pistachios, pressing lightly to attach. Flatten very slightly.

Bake

  1. 3BakeHeat oven to 325°F (165°C), or 300°F (150°C) fan. Arrange on two lined trays 1 inch apart. Bake together 16–20 minutes, switching trays halfway, until edges are set and the nuts smell toasted.

Cool

  1. 4CoolRest on trays 10 minutes and on a rack 20 minutes. Centers should remain tender.

Chef’s Science & Pro Tips

Ingredient science

Unsalted pistachios let you control the salt level.

Technique & texture

Pulse nuts carefully to a meal, not an oily paste.

Finishing & serving

The green color comes from nuts; no coloring is required.

Storage and make-ahead

Keeping your cookies fresh
MethodHow longWhat to do
Room temperatureUp to 5 daysCool fully and keep airtight; separate from moist cookies.
RefrigerationNot neededAvoid condensation and refrigerator moisture on plain baked cookies.
Raw freezingUp to 1 monthFreeze uncoated shaped dough. Thaw in the refrigerator; finish shaping or coating before baking.
Baked freezingUp to 2 monthsFreeze fully cool cookies airtight, without glaze or chocolate when possible.
RestoringBefore servingThaw covered at room temperature, then apply any sugar, glaze or chocolate finish.

Notes

  • Unsalted pistachios let you control the salt level. Pulse nuts carefully to a meal, not an oily paste. The green color comes from nuts; no coloring is required. This home formula has not been kitchen-tested.

Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per serving calculated from ingredient weights divided by 24; required fillings and toppings included, optional decorations excluded. Brands, unused coating and actual serving size affect the estimate.

Calories108 kcal
Fat6.9 g
Saturated fat0.7 g
Carbohydrates9.8 g
Sugar7.2 g
Fiber1.7 g
Protein3.3 g
Sodium29 mg
Serving size1 cookie
A platter of Italian Christmas cookies
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS BAKINGReal ingredients. Clear steps. Italian Christmas magic.Almonds, citrus and thoughtful baking
THE COOKIE INDEXITALIANCHRISTMAS COOKIES

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use pistachio cream?

No. Sweetened cream has a different fat and sugar balance.

Why are they oily?

The nuts may have been ground too far; stop at a fine meal.

Should the centers be crisp?

No. These are intentionally tender almond cookies.

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Share a little Italian Christmas joy

Send this recipe to someone who loves to bake.